As the sun starts to rise on another spectacular city summer, it’s second nature to reminisce on years past and all of the warm-weather memories that make us who we are. And for many New Yorkers, summer nostalgia comes in a paper cup.
It’s the sound of sneakers sticking to a hot boardwalk, the hum of an ice cream truck echoing down the block, and the sweet relief of a rainbow-colored Italian ice after a day spent in the sun. Whether your childhood summers were spent at the Jersey Shore, on a Brooklyn stoop, or racing your friends to the neighborhood ice stand before it closed for the night, few treats feel more synonymous with a New York summer.
And at a hidden cocktail den tucked away from Herald Square’s usual chaos, that childhood favorite is getting a decidedly grown-up makeover.
This season, The Bronze Owl is welcoming summer with a playful new menu centered around made-to-order Italian ice cocktails, bringing a nostalgic twist to happy hour. Crafted using a hand-cranked ice shaver, the colorful frozen drinks transform a beloved childhood staple into something worthy of a summer night out. Think tropical rum-filled slushes, hibiscus-spiked frozen cocktails, neon-green concoctions, and even a campfire-inspired espresso martini complete with toasted marshmallow notes.
The new cocktail lineup is joined by an expanded food menu from Chef Franklin Becker that leans equally indulgent. Alongside elevated bar bites like caviar-topped potato knishes and French onion crème fraîche with house-made chips, guests can dig into a classic lobster roll, pigs in a blanket, deviled egg toast, and a chocolate whoopie pie for dessert.
In other words, if your inner child ever dreamed of pairing Italian ice with cocktails and lobster rolls, this summer might finally be their moment. And also, we want to hang out with them.
Cheers to summer, NYC!
